Ottawa RCMP Officer's Abuse Of Son Not Excused By PTSD: Judge

OTTAWA — An Ottawa judge found a suspended RCMP counter-terrorism officer guilty on a raft of assault charges Monday after hearing how the accused chained up his 11-year-old son in the basement and tormented him with a barbeque lighter.

The 44-year-old man, who cannot be identified, was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, unlawful confinement, assault, failing to provide the necessaries of life and a range of firearms offences.

He was charged after his emaciated son was found by a neighbour.

The boy's stepmother was also found guilty of assault and failing to provide the necessaries of life. She faces a sentencing hearing on Dec. 2, but no such date was immediately set for the father

'A very difficult trial'

The two sat expressionless in the courtroom as the judgment was read. Justice Robert Maranger revoked bail for both after the verdict and they were led away in handcuffs.

"This was a very difficult trial,'' Maranger said, describing the abuse as "disturbing.''

"That a parent would do the things that were done to (this boy) is gut-wrenching.''

In his ruling, the judge said he didn't believe the father's argument that he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder at the time he inflicted the abuse.

"That a parent would do the things that were done to (this boy) is gut-wrenching.''

The judge also commended the boy for being able to testify on his own behalf, despite the treatment to which he'd been subjected.

Some 11 members of the group Bikers Against Child Abuse sat in the courtroom as Maranger read a summary of his 70-page decision.

At one point, they were asked to remove their jackets out of concern that the two accused would feel intimidated.

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How To Recognize Child Abuse

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The following signs may indicate the possibility of child abuse, according to the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre:

Unexplained bruises or injuries, especially in places of the body that children do not normally injure during regular play or movement

A child who is continually hungry, unsuitably dressed for the weather and/or always dirty

Burns which leave a pattern outlining the object which was used to make the burn, such as a cigarette, an iron or an electric stove burner, burns on the hands, feet or buttocks caused by scalding water and rope burns caused by being tied

A young child who is often left alone

A child who is unusually aggressive, angry and hostile to other people

A child who demonstrates withdrawn behaviour, who refuses to participate or dress appropriately for physical activities

A child who shows unusual knowledge of sexual matters beyond their age of development, who exhibits sexualized behaviour around adults or other children